Sleep Related Eating Disorder: All You Need To Know 

A Quick Guide

Yes, everyone enjoys a tasty nighttime snack, however, for some people, nocturnal eating goes beyond that last scoop of ice cream before going to bed. These people discover that they unintentionally eat during the night, whether consciously or unconsciously, as a result of nocturnal eating disorders, or NEDs. These eating disorders are divided into two categories Sleep Related Eating Disorder (SRED) and nocturnal eating syndrome (NES). The primary distinction between the two sleep disorders is that although someone with NES is fully conscious of what they are doing, someone with sleep related eating disorder is only partially awake before they unintentionally start sleep eating. We will go into considerable detail about sleep-related eating disorders in this article.

What Is a Sleep-Related Eating Disorder?

Sleep Related Eating Disorder is a type of parasomnia (a sleep disorder). It is characterized by recurrent episodes of uncontrolled binge eating and drinking when dozing off at night. The episodes, which frequently seem out of control, can happen while the person is just partially awake. It’s possible that the person has no memory (or a very faint memory) of the binge ever taking place.

People may eat certain meals during an episode that they wouldn’t ordinarily eat during the day, as well as a bizarre pairing of foods or inedible items.

A person can experience a sleep related eating disorder while they are sleepwalking. People who have this condition eat when they are asleep. They frequently enter their kitchen and start cooking without even remembering to do so.

Many of these people diet during the day, which can make them hungry & vulnerable to binge eating at night when they are sleeping and have less control. Some people have a history of using drugs, drinking excessively, or having other sleep disorders.

SRED may also be brought on by other medical illnesses or sleep disorders that induce abrupt wakefulness while you’re trying to sleep.

What are the types of SRED?

The following are the two types of SRED:

Drug-induced sleep-related eating disorder: This is brought on by taking specific medications, such as those used to treat insomnia.

Primary sleep-related eating disorder: This condition affects people who also suffer from other sleep disorders. Medication use does not cause this kind of SRED. Sedative and other medication use, however, may worsen primary SRED.

SRED and night eating syndrome are distinct conditions (NES) as we have discussed before. The eating condition known as night eating syndrome makes individuals wake up during the night to eat in an effort to fall back asleep. People with NES, in contrast to those with SRED, recall eating in the morning and eating while they are fully awake.

Who is more susceptible to a sleep related eating disorder?

The following data on sleep-related eating disorders is provided by the journal Psychiatry:

• About 70% of SRED people often eat at night, frequently when they aren’t even hungry or thirsty.
• More than 65% of these individuals consume unacceptable items like frozen food and buttered cigarettes.
• SRED is thought to affect 9% to 17% of people with eating disorders and roughly 5% of the general population.

Additionally, although both men and women can develop this disorder, women are more likely to do so. Typically, sleep-related eating disorders appear in individuals between the ages of 20 and 40. Around 1% to 3% of the general population appears to be impacted by SRED. Ten to fifteen percent of people who have eating disorders also have this disorder. Episodes always seem to be “out of control” and start when the patient is just partially conscious.

Effects of Sleep Related Eating Disorder

The following are issues brought on by a sleep related eating disorder:

• A stomachache
• Appetite loss in the morning
• Eating food in unusual shapes or combinations, such as buttered cigarettes, uncooked bacon, or coffee grounds
• Eating foods that you have an allergy to
• Elevated cholesterol
• Ingesting or drinking chemicals, such as household cleaners
• Insomnia brought on by a sleep disturbance
• Obesity and excessive weight gain
• Sleep-related injury
• Worsened control of diabetes

What are the symptoms of sleep related eating disorder?

The feature of a sleep-related eating disorder is a pattern of nighttime binge eating and drinking episodes. These uncontrollable bouts frequently happen when you are just half awake. You might remember the binge vaguely or not at all. It might happen every night. The meal is frequently quite calorie-dense and eaten in unusual combinations. Patients experiencing sleep related eating disorders may inadvertently injure themselves by ingesting hazardous substances, burning themselves, or starting fires. These people often experience the following: 

• Consume inedible or poisonous substances
• Do something risky when obtaining or preparing meals
• Eat meals that are heavy in calories and see a decline in your health
• Eat unusual meal combinations or food types
• Harm yourself
• Have eating episodes that keep you up at night and keep you awake. As a result, you either have a restless night’s sleep or wake up feeling extremely exhausted
• Have recurring episodes of “out-of-control” eating and drinking while you sleep
• Lose your appetite in the morning

It’s crucial to identify any potential secondary causes of your issue. One of the following factors could cause it:

• A medical condition
• A mental health disorder
• Addiction to drugs
• An additional sleep disorder
• Taking medication

When do these episodes happen?

A Sleep related eating disorder is a type of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep disorder. This indicates that during the first few hours of sleep, sleep eating typically takes place. Often, episodes take place as a person switches from one sleep cycle to another. People with this Disorder may appear bewildered or out of it during an episode. Getting them to wake up is frequently difficult or impossible.

Why does SRED occur?

Taking sedative-hypnotic medications, particularly zolpidem (Ambien®), to treat insomnia leads to drug-induced SRED. These medications reduce brain activity to aid in sleep onset and maintenance. This illness can also be brought on by a few antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs.

These medications can cause some people to perform actions when they are asleep because they alter brain function. They might cook, binge, operate a vehicle, or engage in sexual activity. Most of the time, when people wake up, they have no memory of performing these actions.

Experts are uncertain about the primary SRED’s precise cause. However, individuals with primary SRED frequently experience additional sleep issues such as sleepwalking or restless legs syndrome. These sleep problems are familial. If you or a member of your family suffers from a sleep disorder, you may be more prone to develop this condition.

What are the risk factors for sleep related eating disorder?

If you also suffer from other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome (RLS), Sleepwalking, and Narcolepsy, you run a higher risk of developing sleep-related eating disorders. You are more likely to experience SRED episodes if you don’t get enough sleep. Conditions that disrupt your sleep, such as snoring and Obstructive sleep apnea, may also put you at risk.

If any of the following apply to you, you are more likely to have SRED:

• Feel drowsy or stressed out during the day
• Have depression or anxiety
• Suffering from an eating disorder such as bulimia nervosa
• Take specific prescription pharmaceuticals, such as sedatives to aid in sleep, antidepressants, or antipsychotics
• You are a close relative of someone who sleepwalks

How is SRED diagnosed?

Sleep-related eating disorders are capable of more than just disrupting your sleep. Additionally, it increases your risk of injury and is bad for your general health. Consult a sleep physician if you believe you may have this issue. The beginning of the eating binges must be disclosed to the doctor. They will inquire as to their frequency and duration. Your entire medical background will need to be disclosed to the doctor. Make sure to let them know if you have ever used drugs or medications.

Tell your doctor whether you’ve ever experienced any other sleep disorders as well. See if there are any members of your family who have problems sleeping. Additionally, keeping a sleep journal for a period of two weeks will be beneficial. The doctor can see your sleeping patterns with the aid of a sleep diary. This information provides the doctor with hints about the nature of your condition and potential solutions.

A sleep study may be necessary. The term for this is polysomnography. The test records your heart rate, respiration, and brain waves as you sleep. It also captures the motion of your arms and legs. The ideal sleep study will include filming your sleep. Any strange activities that take place at night will be recorded. If your eating binges are linked to any other sleep disorders, this study will help identify them.

How is Sleep Related Eating Disorder treated by professionals?

Your doctor might advise quitting the prescription or switching to a different one if you have drug-induced sleep related eating disorder. Your healthcare professional will manage the problem if you suffer from other sleep disorders such as RLS or sleep apnea.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are part of the treatment for main sleep-related eating disorders. SSRIs are antidepressant drugs that raise serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that works in the body to control various processes, including mood.

Additional lifestyle modifications that your doctor could advise include:

• As you sleepwalk to the kitchen, move furniture and other obstacles out of your way to prevent injuries.
• Maintaining proper “sleep hygiene,” which entails refraining from screens, coffee, and excessive alcohol before bed. Additionally, it entails making efforts to acquire more rest.
• Putting locks on the cabinets, stoves, and refrigerators, as well as installing an alarm on your bedroom door.
• Taking care of your stress levels and using relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation.

Outlook

By refraining from using sedatives to aid in sleep, you can reduce your risk of developing drug-induced sleep related eating disorder. Ask your doctor if the antipsychotic medication you take could be contributing to this disorder if you take it.

SRED and other parasomnias with unknown causes cannot be avoidable. Speak with your provider if you have ever had sleepwalking, RLS, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy. Your risk of developing certain sleep disorders can be decreased. SRED, if left untreated, can result in wounds, food poisoning, and disease from ingesting non-food items. It may result in obesity, weight gain, and health issues brought on by carrying extra weight (such as diabetes). Episodes of Sleep Related Eating Disorder will probably continue and possibly become more frequent in the absence of treatment. 

If you believe you have experienced instances of uncontrolled sleep eating, consult your doctor straight away. Sleep-related eating disorders can be harmful to your health as well as the health of your family. People with this disorder can quit eating while they are asleep with the help of lifestyle modifications and medications. A couple of times a year checkups with your provider are recommended if you have SRED. By monitoring your health on a regular basis, your doctor can modify your treatment plan or prescriptions.

We hope you found this article helpful in learning more about Sleep related eating disorder.